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Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship

At Grinnell College, students pursue passions that shape their academic careers and impact society. The S&B spoke to Olivia Wang `25 and Chikako Inoue `26, two recipients of the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship, which supports Grinnell College international students as they explore the United States independently while delving into themes that drive their academic and personal […]

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Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship

At Grinnell College, students pursue passions that shape their academic careers and impact society. The S&B spoke to Olivia Wang `25 and Chikako Inoue `26, two recipients of the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship, which supports Grinnell College international students as they explore the United States independently while delving into themes that drive their academic and personal missions. Wang was awarded the fellowship in 2024 and completed her travel last year, while Inoue has yet to embark on their Fischlowitz adventure.

Surfing and (Sub)cultural Exchange

Wang’s journey explored a spectrum of surf spots, from iconic locations like Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Cocoa Beach to lesser-known destinations such as Sheboygan on Lake Michigan and the Gulf Coast near Tampa. Each site offered a distinct glimpse into the local surfing community. While some regions, like Florida and Wisconsin, presented challenging wave conditions, these hurdles only deepened her understanding.

“Even when the waves weren’t ideal, I found opportunities to learn and connect with the people around me,” Wang explained. This adaptive mindset allowed her to observe how geography and community values shape local surf cultures and the ethos of the sport overall.

“I wasn’t just chasing waves,” she said. “I was looking at how people connect to water, to land, and to each other.”

Photo contributed by Olivia Wang.

Beyond the act of surfing itself, Wang’s experience was shaped by her earlier volunteer work with a surf club in Guangdong, China. “The surf club I volunteered with in Guangdong had such a strong sense of purpose — not just surfing for fun, but educating people about the ocean,” she said. “That was where I first saw surfing as something communal and even political.”

These early impressions informed how she approached surf culture in the U.S., where she encountered both polished, image-driven scenes and more relaxed, grassroots communities. “California surf culture felt very polished — like everyone had the right gear, the right look. But places like Cocoa Beach felt more laid-back, more welcoming in a way.”

For Wang, surfing became a way to explore themes of identity, community, and freedom. “Surfing made me think a lot about freedom — how different places and people define it.”

Her travels showed her how the same passion — surfing — can be expressed through very different lived experiences, yet still function as a shared cultural language. In each place, she found a narrative of belonging: one shaped not only by waves, but by people, place, and purpose.

Intergenerational Healing Through Transnational Histories

While Olivia Wang’s travels are complete, Chikako Inoue `26 is just preparing for their own fellowship journey. Recently announced as the 2025 recipient of the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship, Inoue, a Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies major from Saitama, Japan, will embark on their fellowship trip in Aug. 2025.

Inoue’s project centers on the history of “comfort women” — a term for the women and girls subjected to sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. This topic is both a personal and academic focus for Inoue, and they plan to examine how the legacy of this trauma is commemorated within the Asian-American community, especially through statues of peace placed in U.S. cities.

These statues, found in areas with significant Asian-American populations, serve as memorials to the victims of wartime sexual violence. Inoue aims to explore how these memorials act as a form of healing, fostering solidarity and activism within affected communities.

Inoue was encouraged to apply for the fellowship by Ekta Shaikh `24, a fellow GWSS major and previous recipient of the award, who worked on similar gender-based issues.

“I was inspired by their work and saw the fellowship as a chance to deepen my own understanding of American culture, contribute to my community, and expand my network of scholars and activists,” Inoue noted.

As a Japanese student studying in the U.S., Inoue is uniquely positioned to engage with this issue from multiple perspectives — as a scholar, an activist and someone with personal connections to Japan’s wartime actions.

“This project is about acknowledging a painful history and working towards healing,” Inoue explained. “The memorials are not just about remembering the past but about creating spaces for dialogue and solidarity.”

Chikako Inoue poses for a photo in the HSSC on Thursday, Apr. 3 (Owen Barbato)

Inoue also plans to visit key sites, including Glendale, California, where one of the memorials stands, and other cities where similar statues are located. They aim to connect with residents involved in the commemoration and reparation efforts to better understand how public acts of remembrance can serve as tools for healing and social justice.

For future applicants, Inoue emphasized the importance of passion and purpose in the proposal. “This fellowship is a powerful tool for anyone looking to deepen their academic and activist work while engaging with diverse communities. My project is personal, and I believe that authenticity shines through in the application process.”

Inoue’s fellowship will also provide opportunities to connect with scholars and activists who are also addressing issues like colonialism, decolonization and the legacy of wartime sexual violence. “I want to bring the experiences of comfort women into broader conversations about colonialism, trauma and healing,” Inoue said.

The Fischlowitz Fellowship Selection Process

Emily Perry, assistant director of international student programs at Grinnell’s Office of International Student Affairs (OISA), oversees the logistics of the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship. She described the process in a recent interview, noting that a selection committee reviews proposals and selects three finalists for interviews before choosing the final recipient.

The committee has five members — a representative each from the Office Development and Alumni Relations, global fellowships and awards and the Institute for Global Engagement, a rotating faculty member and the most recent recipient of the fellowship (Wang participated in the 2025 search committee.) Perry’s role is to manage the logistics while remaining neutral in the final decision-making process.

The selection committee evaluates applicants based on a rubric that considers the clarity of their theme, the feasibility of their travel plans and their overall maturity and adaptability. Perry emphasized the importance of seeing clear goals, realistic planning and the ability to engage with new experiences. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate openness to learning and flexibility in their travel plans, as the fellowship places a strong emphasis on independent exploration and personal growth.

The number of applications for the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship has remained consistent despite concerns during the pandemic. “We’ve seen a steady number of applications each year, with students engaging deeply with the themes they propose,” Perry said.

While Inoue’s fellowship travel has not yet begun, they took an early step in preparation after being invited to attend the 25th anniversary of the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on March 13, 2025, at Cardozo School of Law in New York City. The event honored the legacy of the comfort women and the tribunal, marking its 25th anniversary and reflecting on its ongoing impact.

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Gulf Breeze, Pace both in region tournament

Just 32 Class 2A beach volleyball teams remain active in the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs. Santa Rosa County boasts two of those teams. Both Pace and Gulf Breeze learned their opponents and locations in the Region 1-2A quarterfinals after the FHSAA had its selection show for the beach volleyball state tournament on April […]

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April 26, 2025

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Just 32 Class 2A beach volleyball teams remain active in the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Santa Rosa County boasts two of those teams.

Both Pace and Gulf Breeze learned their opponents and locations in the Region 1-2A quarterfinals after the FHSAA had its selection show for the beach volleyball state tournament on April 25. The tournament begins on April 29.

With a full state tournament this season that includes a three regional rounds, the road to Tallahassee gets a little longer for beach volleyball teams this season. The semifinals are slated for May 2 followed by the finals on May 6.

All eyes go to Florida State University on May 9-10 for the state championships in Tallahassee after that.

Gulf Breeze now has its path to defend its state crown after the Dolphins defeated Berkeley Prep, 3-2, in their second season as a program to achieve the immaculate 22-0 season.

Here’s how the region bracket shapes up for both Gulf Breeze and Pace. The full regional rankings will be listed below the region playoff bracket once they’re updated by the FHSAA. Teams with an asterisk (*) are the host for the region quarterfinals.

FHSAA Region 1-2A bracket

  • 1. Chiles (2)* vs. 8. Leon (2)
  • 2. Gulf Breeze (1)* vs. 7. Crestview (1)
  • 3. Bishop Kenny (3)* vs. 6. Middleburg (4)
  • 4. Beachside (4)* vs. 5. Pace (1)

Notes: Things are pretty straightforward in Region 1-2A as all four district champions are in the top four teams, meaning they will all host the region quarterfinals. Gulf Breeze, with the No. 2 seed, will have a rematch of the District 1 championship game against Crestview in the quarterfinals. Pace, an at-large bid, heads to Beachside in St. Johns for the first round as the No. 5 seed. The region will run through Chiles as long as the Timberwolves keep winning.

FHSAA Beach Volleyball rankings

Class 2A

  • Gulf Breeze (24.534) – first in District 1-2A, second in Region 1-2A, second in Class 2A, fourth overall in state
  • Pace (12.364) – second in District 1-2A, fifth in region 1-2A, 18th in Class 2A, 47th overall in state
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Waves Finish Season at WCC Tournament

Story Links Box Score vs. LMU Box Score vs. Santa Clara SANTA MONICA, Calif.  —  The Pepperdine beach volleyball team finished the 2025 campaign at the West Coast Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon.   With injuries hitting the Waves at […]

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April 26, 2025

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SANTA MONICA, Calif.  —  The Pepperdine beach volleyball team finished the 2025 campaign at the West Coast Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon.
 
With injuries hitting the Waves at an inopportune time, Pepperdine was forced to play with a different lineup than usual on courts three and five.
 
The Waves (19-15) fell to #4 LMU (35-6) in the winners bracket semifinal before battling it out and ultimately dropping a 3-2 heartbreaker to Santa Clara (18-18) in the losers bracket semifinal.
 
#4 LMU RECAP
Playing to a clinch, LMU took a quick 2-0 advantage as the Lions swept courts five and four with respective scores of 21-9, 21-10 and 21-12, 21-14. Needing to win just one more court to move on to the championship, LMU won 21-15, 21-13 in slot No. 3 to seal the match and earn a spot in the title game.
 
Courts one and two were unfinished, while the Lions had won the first set on both courts and held an advantage in the second set at the time of the clinch.
 
SANTA CLARA RECAP
The Broncos jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a 21-12, 21-8 win on court five. However, Emma Eden (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Ella Foti (Madison, Wis.) evened the duel with a dominant 21-15, 21-14 win in slot No. 2. From there, Kate Clermont (Burlington, Ontario, Canada) and McKenna Thomas (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) gave Pepperdine a 2-1 lead with their own two-set win on court one (21-16, 21-15).
 
Santa Clara then tied the duel 2-all with a 21-14, 21-18 triumph in slot No. 3. With the duel knotted up, Santa Clara held a one set lead on court four, but the Waves were up 17-13 in the second set. However, the Broncos battled back and won the set 21-18 to win the court and the match.
 
RESULTS
#4 LMU def. Pepperdine 3-0
No. 1. Kate Clermont/McKenna Thomas (PEPP) vs. Chloe Hooker/Vilhelmiina Prihti (LMU) 16-21, 7-14 – Unfinished
No. 2  Emma Eden/Ella Foti (PEPP) vs. Michelle Shaffer/Anna Pelloia (LMU) 17-21, 10-14 – Unfinished
No. 3. Abbey Thorup/Lisa Luini (LMU) def. Bella Avelar/Madison Oriskovich (PEPP) 21-15, 21-13
No. 4. Isabelle Reffel/Magdalena Rabitsch (LMU) def. Emi Erickson/Marley Johnson (PEPP) 21-12, 21-14
No. 5. Tanon Rosenthal/Gi Poletti Corrales (LMU) def. Kenzi McSpadden/Deanie Woodruff (PEPP) 21-9, 21-10
 
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3*
 
Santa Clara def. Pepperdine 3-2
No. 1. Kate Clermont/McKenna Thomas (PEPP) def. Holland Jackson/Noelle Niederman (SCU) 21-16, 21-15
No. 2  Emma Eden/Ella Foti (PEPP) def. Sadie Snipes/Sammy Wood (SCU) 21-15, 21-14
No. 3. Alexandra Urbina/Ciara Cantlen (SCU) def. Bella Avelar/Madison Oriskovich (PEPP) 21-16, 21-16
No. 4. Kawena Chillingworth/Teagan Wilson (SCU) def. Emi Erickson/Marley Johnson (PEPP) 21-14, 21-18
No. 5. Callie Loughran/Ava Stoddard (SCU) def. Kenzi McSpadden/Deanie Woodruff (PEPP) 21-12, 21-8
 
Order of finish: 5, 2, 1, 4, 3*
 
FOLLOW
Follow @WavesBeachVB on Facebook and X for immediate updates, results and more.  Go to PepperdineWaves.com for all information, releases and schedules. Find the Waves on Instagram @peppbeachvolley.

 



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Tech tops Panthers, falls to Lindenwood to end run at OVC Championship

By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The 2025 season officially came to a close for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team on Friday at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in Chattanooga, but not without a fight from the Cookeville crew. The No. 5 purple and gold split a pair of tilts at […]

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By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The 2025 season officially came to a close for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team on Friday at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in Chattanooga, but not without a fight from the Cookeville crew. The No. 5 purple and gold split a pair of tilts at the UTC Beach Volleyball Courts, topping No. 6-seeded Eastern Illinois before falling in a rematch with No. 4 Lindenwood.

The Golden Eagles (5-19) opened the day with a decisive victory over the Panthers (1-12), controlling the tilt for a 3-1 win. In the duel with Eastern Illinois, three straight-set victories provided the necessary damage to stay alive in the league’s postseason event, with the unfinished pairing at No. 2 boasting a lead as well.

Leading the purple and gold to an early 1-0 lead, the No. 5 tandem of seniors Jazmine Yamilkoski and McKenna Young rolled to a pair of wins over EIU’s Lilli Amettis and Julia Udell. The Tech veterans opened things with a 21-12 triumph in set one before closing things out with a 21-16 decision in the second set.

The Panthers bounced back with a match-tying win out of the No. 4 slot with Kaitlyn Flynn and Ariadna Pereles, picking up wins of 21-14 and 21-16 over the Golden Eagle team of seniors Emma Pabon and Elena Wallace. Tech responded with another win in straight sets, this time behind the tenacity of the No. 3 spot.

Sophomore MK Roberts and senior Aleeya Jones teamed up to take down Eastern Illinois’ Tori Mohesky and Sylvia Hasz, edging the pair in a close battle in the opening set, 22-20. Roberts and Jones followed it by with a more decisive showing in set two, rocking a 21-17 victory for a 2-1 lead.

Closing out the key victory for the Cookeville crew, redshirt sophomore Jordan Karlen and senior Bella Powell joined forces at the No. 1 position for the clinching decision, topping the Panthers’ Catalina Rochaix and Destiny Walker. Tech’s top tandem turned in two titanic tallies in the win column, besting their EIU counterparts 21-13 and 21-12.

Not far from earning a win of their own, senior Brooke Amann and freshman Alayna Pierce controlled the battle at the No. 2 slot from the get-go. After claiming a 21-13 victory in the first set, the Tech partners ended the match unfinished with an 18-14 lead over EIU’s Laura Paniagua and Emma Schroeder.

For the second day in a row, the Golden Eagles found themselves squaring off with the Lions in an eventual 3-2 win by Lindenwood. The St. Charles, Mo. squad turned in a comeback win this time around, as Tech made it a roller-coaster affair.

Finishing first in the tilt, the Lions’ No. 4 team of Gabby Belcher and Aubrey Sheppard topped the Golden Eagles’ Emma Pabon and Elena Wallace in straight sets by scores of 21-14 and 21-8, giving Lindenwood a 1-0 lead.

Tech answered back with a gutsy victory in the No. 5 slot, as seniors Jazmine Yamilkoski and McKenna Young claimed a marathon of a first set, 25-23. The veterans of the Cookeville crew deadlocked the affair at 1-1, avenging a loss to Lindenwood’s Myah Hough and Sienna King with a 21-14 triumph in set two.

The purple and gold took their first lead of the duel behind a strong showing in straight sets by the No. 3 tandem of senior Aleeya Jones and sophomore MK Roberts. The Tech combo provided a 2-1 lead behind wins of 21-16 and 21-17 over the Lions’ Abby VanBuskirk and Taylor Gentemann.

Lindenwood’s Abby Jacobs and Annalie McWhorter forced another tie at 2-2 while representing the No. 1 spot, topping Tech redshirt sophomore Jordan Karlen and senior Bella Powell by scores of 21-13 and 21-19.

With the match on the line, it seemed only fitting that the decisive pairing at the No. 2 position would require all three sets. Golden Eagle senior Brooke Amann and freshman Alayna Pierce took control with a first-set triumph of 21-12, but the Lions’ Nyah Wilson and Katie Bockhorst responded with tight victories of 22-20 and 15-12 to secure the Lindenwood win.

Photo by Trevor Jolley

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Gauchos’ Rally Comes Up Just Short in Big West Quarterfinal

IRVINE, Calif. — The No. 6 seed UC Santa Barbara Women’s Water Polo team (16-13, 2-5 Big West) gave hosts and No. 3 seed UC Irvine (15-12, 5-2 Big West) everything the Anteaters could handle in Friday’s Big West Championship Quarterfinal, but the Gauchos’ late rally came up just a goal shy […]

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April 26, 2025

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IRVINE, Calif. — The No. 6 seed UC Santa Barbara Women’s Water Polo team (16-13, 2-5 Big West) gave hosts and No. 3 seed UC Irvine (15-12, 5-2 Big West) everything the Anteaters could handle in Friday’s Big West Championship Quarterfinal, but the Gauchos’ late rally came up just a goal shy of sending things to overtime as Santa Barbara fell, 12-11. Christina Mullane recorded a hat-trick, while Juju Amaral tallied five assists and Ava Donleavy made 14 saves.
 
FROM INTERIM HEAD COACH EMMA MYALL
“We came in with a strong gameplan, we were really excited about our after-goal defense that we ran, and it worked pretty well for a good amount of the game,” Myall said. “In general, I’m so proud of the season this year. It was a very unexpected season for us, and the girls went through a lot of hardship and difficult times of change, and they started adjusting really well to me and to my staff, and we all realized we had each other’s backs and we wanted to win.”
 
“Our culture, that was the one thing I really wanted to focus on when I first came in as interim (head coach). I brought the girls together and we talked about love, and we talked about confidence and loyalty and accountability, and those things led us through the season. The number one of those was love, right? With love you have respect, you have all the things, and the celebration, the goals, the blocks, everything we’re doing, that’s all out of love for each other, and we’re a family at the end of the day.”
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos were all over the Anteaters early, with Mullane drawing and converting a penalty shot on Santa Barbara’s first possession. Amaral added her first of two goals on the day to double the Gauchos’ advantage to 2-0 inside two minutes. Irvine responded and tied the game before the second quarter, but Bella Mady scored the first goal of the second to put Santa Barbara back on top.
 
The second quarter went back and forth, with Irvine next to score, then Amaral putting the Gauchos ahead again. The Anteaters answered, but again Santa Barbara re-took the lead, this time through Imani Clemons. The Gauchos held that lead, a 5-4 edge, at halftime.
 
Irvine took their first lead of the day with the first two goals of the third quarter, but Santa Barbara again grabbed their lead back with goals from Mullane and Molly Souza, going up, 7-6. After another Anteater goal tied things, Annie Kuester gave the Gauchos the lead yet again, 8-7, heading into the fourth quarter.
 
For the first time all day, Irvine took a two-goal lead in the fourth, going in front by three, 11-8, with four and a half minutes left to play. Mullane’s third goal of the day reduced the arrears to two, then Isabel Valaika scored less than 20 seconds later to bring Santa Barbara back into the game, with the score 11-10. Irvine’s final goal of the day came just inside the three-minute mark, and Kuester kept the comeback dream alive with her second goal of the day, with a minute and 45 seconds left. The Gauchos got a chance to tie the game in the final ticks of the clock, but could not convert.
 

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Ventura Harbor dune controversy spikes up worry over volleyball courts

Winging it at Ventura’s settling ponds Ventura’s settling ponds offers one of the best walks for birders in the area. A state agency said the courts sit on environmentally sensitive land. Volleyball advocates say there are no adequate alternative sites. Ventura Harbor leaders want to keep the beach as it is. Long-standing volleyball courts on […]

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play

  • A state agency said the courts sit on environmentally sensitive land.
  • Volleyball advocates say there are no adequate alternative sites.
  • Ventura Harbor leaders want to keep the beach as it is.

Long-standing volleyball courts on a Ventura Harbor beach sit unpermitted on dune land that was flattened and stripped of vegetation, according to California Coastal Commission staff allegations.

The claims, and calls from commission officials for the site to be restored to dunes, have unleashed concern about the future of the popular volleyball courts and other recreational facilities on Harbor Cove Beach.

Officials of the agency designed to protect the coast want harbor leaders to relocate the courts used by schools, youth groups, tournament organizers and beachgoers looking for exercise. Ventura Port District officials said they don’t want to move the courts and challenge assertions the land is environmentally sensitive.

Coastal Commission leaders say they won’t force the nine sand courts to move and are looking for a “win-win” middle ground. But the talk of relocation sparked a special port district meeting and a petition signed by more than 2,000 people. The document calls for saving the 10-year-old courts that serve as a recreation hub and a go-to site for women and girl volleyballers.

“They are the only female-centric courts in Ventura County,” said Brad Lyans, coach of the Ventura College women’s team that uses the site for practice and matches.

Lyans, who also manages the courts, said there are no alternative beaches at the harbor that could replace the current program.

“For the last 10 years, no one has said two words about it,” he said in frustration. “There’s never been an issue until right now.”

Outrigger clubs worry too

Port district leaders worry too about two outrigger canoe clubs that paddle out of the same beach, at the far end of the harbor, not from the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center. They store their canoes and equipment in large containers on land that Coastal Commission staff said is environmentally sensitive.

Coastal Commission leaders said the outrigger containers may also need to be moved.

A plan for an alternative storage site is being considered. If it fails, leaders of the outrigger clubs worry they could be endangered along with activities aimed at introducing children to paddling and an annual tournament that brings hundreds of visitors to the harbor.

“It could jeopardize our club’s future as a recreational provider in the Ventura Harbor,” said Yvonne Menard, president of the Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club.

Officials of the Ventura Port District contend the Coastal Commission staff’s interest in bringing back more dunes could dramatically reduce recreational activities and public access on a beach regularly used for public events and so protected from the surf it is nicknamed Mother’s Beach.

“This is the best public beach in Ventura County, and to potentially lose what could be a substantial amount of beach … just does not seem like good policy,” said Brian Pendleton, general manager of the Ventura Port District.

Sand has piled up

The issue is expected to surface in a Coastal Commission meeting on May 9 in Half Moon Bay. Commissioners are set to vote on awarding a long-awaited permit that would allow the Ventura Port District to resume sand-management work that was halted in 2023 when the district was told it needed commission authorization.

Steve Hudson, district director for the commission, said the permitting process revealed that dune land was leveled sometime in 2013 and vegetation removed in what he called violations of the state’s Coastal Act. He said it’s not clear who committed the actions.

Pendleton said the issue is “legal matter” and declined to respond to specific allegations.

“We disagree with their findings,” he said. A port district lawyer said in a letter to the Coastal Commission that founders of the volleyball court were not told of the permit requirements. He also contended the commission was told about the courts before they were installed.

The differences extend to other issues. Pendleton said the halt on the port district’s sand management work in 2023 means sand has spilled over fences and piled on walkways, parking lots and streets. The district’s commission declared an emergency in April to allow sand removal efforts to resume for seven days.

Hudson said the Coastal Commission understands the value of the volleyball courts and is committed to recreation and public access. He said the current issue focuses on the alleged changes in the dune land, not on nets.

“The only concern with the volleyball court is the location,” he said, noting that possible new sites for the sand volleyball complex could include a southern stretch of the same beach “as close as a few hundred feet.”

The volleyball courts are managed by a youth and juniors club organization called the Los Angeles Volleyball Academy. Lyans, who works for the academy, said the alternative beach location isn’t nearly big enough. Another site that has been discussed has asphalt under the sand. Other beaches contain too many rocks and pebbles.

“I don’t think there are any areas that I’ve seen that are available that are public use lands where we could potentially put courts,” he said.

Port district leaders said the best location for the court is its current one.

Creating a backup plan

Hudson said he recognizes a compromise may not be reached. He said staff won’t force the issue but will recommend the Coastal Commission approve the sand management permit and “carve out” the volleyball issue, leaving it unresolved. In that scenario, the courts would stay while efforts to find a resolution could continue.

Ventura Harbor leaders said such a carve out could bring more time to find a better plan. But it could also lead to the Coastal Commission deciding in the future to force out the courts or take enforcement action.

In a special meeting on April 23, Ventura Port District commissioners voted unanimously to ask the Coastal Commission to approve the sand management permit and to keep the beach as it is, allowing current recreation to go undeterred.

They said they would also work to keep the outrigger clubs at the Harbor Cove Beach, moving the storage containers to an adjacent location not regulated by the Coastal Commission.

Port district leaders also adopted a backup plan. They said if the Coastal Commission on May 9 expresses reluctance to their plan to keep the Harbor Cove Beach in its current state, they’ll pivot to Hudson’s carve-out plan. They would ask for a year of time with assurances no action will be taken against the volleyball court.

They would then study the options and come up with a comprehensive plan.

Advocates for the volleyball nets and outrigger clubs supported the strategy but still worried about the uncertainty of what could happen at the Coastal Commission meeting in May.

“I’m always going to be worried,” Lyans said.

Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com.

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Florida State University Athletics

BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 8 Florida State beach volleyball team split the opening day of the CCSA Tournament in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday. The Seminoles topped No. 11 LSU 3-1 in the first round before falling to No. 7 Texas 3-0 in the winner’s bracket. FSU opened the day with a strong […]

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BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 8 Florida State beach volleyball team split the opening day of the CCSA Tournament in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday. The Seminoles topped No. 11 LSU 3-1 in the first round before falling to No. 7 Texas 3-0 in the winner’s bracket.

FSU opened the day with a strong 3-1 win over LSU. The Seminoles jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead as Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty and Makenna Wolfe/Myriah Massey earned three-set victories on courts two and four. LSU responded with a win on court five, but Carra Sassack and Bailey Higgins clinched the dual for the Noles on court three, 21-16, 21-17.

In their second match, the Seminoles fell 3-0 to Texas in the winner’s bracket. The Longhorns took early control with wins on courts two and four. FSU battled on court five, but Texas held on to complete the sweep and advance in the CCSA Championship.

FSU will be back in action tomorrow against LSU at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The winner will play Texas in the CCSA championship at 2:00 p.m. Live stats will be available on Seminoles.com.

For more information on the Florida State beach volleyball program, check Seminoles.com and follow us on social media at fsubeachvolleyball (IG) and @FSU_BeachVB (X). 

 

#8 Florida State 3, #11 LSU 1

1.     Alexis Durish/Audrey Koenig (FSU) vs. Parker Bracken/Gabi Bailey (LSU) unfinished

2.     Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty (FSU) def. Aubrey O’Gorman/Camryn Chatellier (LSU) 21-18, 17-21, 15-8

3.     Carra Sassack/Bailey Higgins (FSU) def. Elle Evers/Julia Sprecher (LSU) 21-16, 21-17

4.     Makenna Wolfe/Myriah Massey (FSU) def. Tatum Finlason/Kate Baker (LSU) 21-23, 21-16, 17-15

5.     Emily Meyer/Skylar Martin (LSU) def. Jordan Boulware/Kenzie Hultquist (FSU) 24-22, 21-15

#7 Texas 3, #8 Florida State 0

1.     Alexis Durish/Audrey Koenig (FSU) vs. Chloe Charles/Eva Liisa Kuivonen (UT) 21-16, 10-10 unfinished

2.     Emma Grace Robertson/Katie Hashman (UT) def. Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty (FSU) 21-17, 21-16

3.     Carra Sassack/Bailey Higgins (FSU) vs. Karin Zolnercikova/Maddison Parmelly (UT) 13-21, 16-17 unfinished

4.     Noa Sonneville/Macey Butler (UT) def. Makenna Wolfe/Myriah Massey (FSU) 21-15, 21-18

5.     Ava Patton/Vivian Johnson (UT) def. Jordan Boulware/Kenzie Hultquist (FSU) 23-21, 21-14

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